Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Pamela, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Value of Virtue
Class and Morality
Religion and Marriage
Sexual Politics
Summary
Analysis
Pamela writes to her mother and father that she has finished all her tasks and is just waiting for her chance to finally leave. She looks forward to coming home and singing and dancing during the holidays. Still, she’s been fretting about details of her upcoming trip, like how to pack her clothes. While talking about packing with Mrs. Jervis, Pamela brought up the four guineas that she gave to her parents. She wondered if she should pay them back to Mr. B because she feels that the work she did was less valuable than the cost of keeping her around. Mr. Jervis insisted, however, that Mr. B would want her to keep everything she’s been given.
Once again, the four guineas come up as an important symbol of what loyalty, if any, Pamela owes Mr. B. Her desire to give the money back shows her desire to be totally free of obligations to Mr. B, who seemingly gave her the guineas specifically to make her feel indebted to him. Still, despite Pamela’s desire to get away from Mr. B, she still feels some deference for his higher position and also wants to return the money because she doesn’t feel worthy of it.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
Pamela writes that she insisted to Mrs. Jervis that she wasn’t worthy of extravagant gifts of clothes or money and only wanted to take the bare essentials to survive. Pamela was horrified to learn later that Mr. B overheard everything because Mrs. Jervis was cooperating with him. Now Pamela doesn’t know who to trust.
Even after everything Mrs. Jervis witnessed between Mr. B and Pamela, Mrs. Jervis still helps Mr. B spy on Pamela. Mrs. Jervis’s failure to disobey Mr. B—someone she now knows is a danger to Pamela—demonstrates how difficult it is to go against the social order.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
